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Report: Sox slugger Abreu paid agents $5.8 million to exit Cuba

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu allegedly paid $5.8 million to three agents who helped smuggle him out of his native Cuba, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

Citing court documents, the Tribune reports Abreu made three payments to Bart Hernandez, Julio Estrada and Amin Latouff, who have all been indicted on a charge of human trafficking, during his rookie season with the Sox in 2014.

Hernandez, who has represented several Cuban players including Abreu and Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, was arrested in February on charges of alien smuggling.

Abreu signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the White Sox on Oct. 29, 2013.

Last year, Abreu batted .301 with 30 home runs and 101 RBI. Abreu and Albert Pujols are the only two players in major-league history to hit 30 or more homers and drive in 100 or more runs in each of their first two major-league seasons.

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